Luckily, the museum has a talented team of preservationists and craftspeople dedicated to the cause. Below are a selection of projects that are underway on PEM’s campus:

Ropes Mansion (318 Essex Street)
Repairs to the exterior of the Ropes Mansion, including arches to the laundry yard, is complete along with necessary structural repairs to the west wall. Over the summer, all three chimneys have been re-flashed, fixing a tough-to-find leak.

Cotting-Smith Assembly House (138 Federal Street)
A soil repair and drainage project on the front of the Cotting-Smith Assembly House recently completed and a new selection of period-appropriate plants will be identified and planted in spring 2025. PEM will also be designing and replacing a missing balustrade that was once installed above the house’s portico but was removed in the early 20th century. How do we know about it? This detail was almost lost to history, but appears in two historic photographs in PEM’s collection.

Peirce-Nichols House (80 Federal Street)
In early summer, Peirce-Nichols House received approval for the roof and balustrade project from Salem’s Historic Commission. Final details are currently in process to begin the castings for the balustrades.

Crowninshield-Bentley House (126 Essex Street)
In June, the exterior of the home was repainted and a repair section of crown molding was carved and installed. In ongoing research, new fascinating details have been uncovered about the lives of the enslaved and free African Americans connected to this property in the second half of the 18th century.

Gardner-Pingree House (128 Essex Street)
Over the spring and summer, new carpeting was installed on the second floor and graining repairs are now complete on several exterior doors. In the months to come, varnish touchups to the doors will also be underway as well as painting the ceilings on all three floors and in the stair hall.

John Ward House (9 Brown Street)
A casement window restoration project recently completed and all four of the remaining restored windows have been installed over the summer.

Andrew-Safford House (13 Washington Square)
During the summer, wooden elements on the front facade of the house will be repainted.

Yin Yu Tang (161 Essex Street)
In 2025, Yin Yu Tang will be undergoing work to preserve its roof tiles and masonry walls. During your visit, scaffolding may be present and work may be actively underway. Please note that the house may be intermittently closed to enable this important preservation work. Thank you in advance for your understanding.